Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, dropped by several charities after leaked Jeffrey Epstein email

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, is facing a fresh storm of public and professional backlash after seven charities abruptly severed ties with her in the wake of bombshell revelations about her private correspondence with the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Julia’s House Children’s Hospice led the charge, declaring it would be “inappropriate” for the Duchess to continue as patron after the Mail on Sunday published an explosive 2011 email in which the Duchess apologised to Epstein for disavowing him publicly.

The charity confirmed it had informed the Duchess of its decision and scrubbed her name from its website within hours.

Other organisations quickly followed.

The Teenage Cancer Trust, which Ms Ferguson had supported since its first unit opened in 1990, announced she was no longer a patron, while the British Heart Foundation, Prevent Breast Cancer, the Children’s Literacy Charity and the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation all cut ties. The National Foundation for Retired Service Animals removed her from its ambassadors list.

Julia’s House said: “Following the information shared this weekend on the Duchess of York’s correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julia’s House has taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity. We have advised the Duchess of York of this decision and thank her for her past support.”

The Daily Mail reported that the email at the centre of the scandal shows Ms Furguson grovelling to Epstein weeks after publicly announcing she had ended all contact with him.

She allegedly wrote that she only distanced herself to protect “my career as a children’s book author and children’s philanthropist,” admitting she was “broken” as she watched “all my children’s work disappearing.”

It was reported that she expressed to Epstein, “Sometimes the heart speaks better than the words. You have my heart. With lots of love, dear Jeffrey.”

The Duchess, who has written more than 50 children’s books, had previously described taking money from Epstein as “a gigantic error of judgment.” Her spokesperson said the apology email was sent under legal advice after Epstein threatened to sue her for defamation, adding: “She deeply regrets any association with him and abhors paedophilia.”

But the fallout has been swift and severe.

Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, founders of the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, said: “We were disturbed to read of Sarah, Duchess of York’s, correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein. She was a patron but, in the light of the recent revelations, we have taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue to be associated with the charity.”

Even long-standing supporters like the Teenage Cancer Trust issued blunt statements: “We have made the decision to end our relationship with the Duchess of York, and as of today she is no longer a patron.”

The scandal comes as the Duke of York continues to battle public outrage over his own links to Epstein, which cost him all public duties and titles.

Sources told the Daily Mail that King Charles is under pressure to stop Prince Andrew – and now potentially Ms Ferguson– from appearing at private royal events to avoid further embarrassment.

It has been reported that King Charles has explored every possible sanction, from cutting Prince Andrew’s funding to pressuring him to vacate Royal Lodge at Windsor.

Some insiders say that with new revelations surfacing, the King may be forced to bar the couple from family gatherings altogether.

The timing could not be worse for Ms Furguson, who is promoting her latest Flora & Fen picture book ahead of its November release. Royal biographer Andrew Lownie has warned publishers may now reconsider their association with her.

The Duchess’s association with Epstein dates back to the 1990s, when she was introduced to him by American-British businesswoman Lynn Forester de Rothschild.

Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate now serving 20 years in prison for sex trafficking, has since called Ms Furguson a “frenemy” and claimed the Duchess “had a thing for him.”

Epstein’s victims remain at the centre of the scandal.

Virginia Giuffre, who accused Epstein and Ms Maxwell of trafficking her as a teenager, alleged she was assaulted by Prince Andrew on three occasions – allegations he has denied. He settled her civil lawsuit out of court in 2022 without admitting liability.

Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving underage girls, but the shadow of his crimes continues to haunt the Duke and Duchess of York.